Disclaimer: I don't own, I rent.

Chapter Twenty-One
"If This Was a Movie"

When Jane left her apartment, Maura slowly made her way to her bedroom, not bothering to shower or even to change into something other than her dress. She crawled under her covers, still clutching the letter from her father and alternated between being so angry she wanted to throw something and so sad she couldn't stop crying.

She honestly didn't know if she was angry with Jane or not. She understood her girlfriend was just trying to spare her some pain, but at the same time, she still lied to her. She still kept secrets. That was something Maura was certain you just didn't do in relationships.

She knew she was angry with her father, however.

How could he do this?

How could he not tell me?

He was the reason she was forced to grow up with her aunt and uncle. He was the reason her mother was dead. Her mother didn't even know why. Had he told her in their last seconds, bleeding out on the sidewalk? Did he apologize? If he did, did he even mean it?

Why had he put them in danger like that?

He could have left. He could have let us go. He could have done more to keep us safe.

Maura had heard the stories about Paddy Doyle when she was in high school. She had heard all the accounts of how many people he had killed, how he was ruthless, a killer, a monster.

Her father was a monster.

Her kind, sweet, loving father.

It didn't make any sense.

But there was no denying it; she had her proof right here in her father's handwriting.

Her own flesh, her own blood, was a cold-blooded killer.

What did that make her?

- R & I -

When she was around half way back to her dorm, Jane collapsed in tears on a bench. How did everything get so messed up so fast?

Less than a month together and she had already made Maura cry.

Way to go, Rizzoli.

She knew she should have told Maura when she found out weeks before. She had known in her gut and went against her instincts and look where it landed her: alone and crying on a park bench.

What a lovely sight.

She let out a huge sigh and bent down to rest her forehead in her hands, willing herself to stop crying.

"Jane?"

Jane's head jerked up, looking around to find the source of the sound. When she saw who was standing in front of her, the tears stopped and her blood began to boil.

"What do you want?"

"Just wanted to see if you were okay. I mean, you're crying. You never cry."

"Thank you for pointing that out."

"Seriously, Jane, are you okay?"

"Just leave me alone, Gabe."

"You know, despite what you might think about me, I do love you. I'm always going to care about you. So if something is bothering you, if you need someone to talk to, I'm here."

He sat down next to her and didn't say another word. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes and was surprised to see that he looked sincere.

She really could use someone to talk to.

"I messed up."

Again, he didn't say a word; he simply waited for her to continue, giving her a supportive look.

"I lied to Maura. Well, I didn't really lie, I just…didn't tell her the whole truth. I know I should have. I just knew it would hurt her. I knew it would upset her and I couldn't bear to be the one to do that to her."

"You really do care about her, don't you?"

"Of course I do. She's amazing. She's perfect."

"I always just thought you were trying to be nice to her."

Jane looked over and saw that he truly looked shocked. He really didn't listen to anything she said, did he? Jane stiffened slightly as she felt him rest his hand on her back and rub comforting circles as she stared at the ground.

Her head jerked up once again when she heard footsteps coming their way and she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"Maura?"

"Jane, thank God, listen, I'm sorry I-"

She cut herself off when she saw Gabe sitting next to Jane and her face turned stone cold, "Oh. Gabriel."

Jane jumped off the bench as if it were on fire, running to Maura, an apologetic and guilty look on her face. Of course this would happen to her. This is how her life goes. She sees Gabe for the first time since she left him in that restaurant and of course Maura would see them and think the worst.

Why would anything else have happened?

"Maur, it's not what it looks like."

"Jane, you do realize that nothing good ever starts with that sentence."

"But it's true! I was sitting here and he just walked up and sat down, it was nothing."

"No, I get it. I understand. My dad is a killer, Jane. He was evil. A monster. So what does that make me? I could be just as evil as he was. It's in my blood after all; the mob is a family business. Of course you wouldn't want to be with me after all that."

"Maura, baby, no, no, no, that is not what's happening-"

"Baby? Wait. You two are dating?"

"Not anymore."

Jane was sure her heart stopped. Not anymore? Maura was breaking up with her? Even after she just said they could work through anything?

She stood there stunned and watched Maura turn on her heels and walk just a few feet back toward her apartment before Jane managed to make her feet work. She ran in front of the blonde, stopped and rested her hands on Maura's shoulders.

"Maur, you can't do this. You can't break up with me. You just can't. You said we could work through anything. You said you wouldn't leave me. I'm so sorry. I will never keep anything from you again. I promise. Just please, don't leave me."

The tears began to form in Maura's eyes and as she blinked, a few escaped down her cheek. Jane had never seen her look more dejected, more broken.

"How could you possibly love me like this, Jane? After knowing what you do about me?"

"Maura, you're the same person you were yesterday! You're the sweetest, kindest, most selfless person I've ever met. Knowing who your dad really is doesn't change that."

"Of course it does! It changes everything!"

"How? How is anything different than it was yesterday?"

"Because. Because...it is!"

"See, you can't even come up with a reason."

"It's different, Jane."

"No, it's not. Nothing is different. Yesterday, had you ever thought about killing someone? Hell, even hurt someone? Could you even do it?"

"Well my father did it."

"But could you?"

Maura fell silent, thinking hard. Could she really kill someone? Maybe if her life depended on it. If Jane's life depended on it, definitely. So yes. She could kill someone. She could definitely kill someone.

"I would kill for you."

Jane couldn't help the small smile that graced her lips. She took her hands from her girlfriend's shoulders, used her thumbs to wipe the tears from her cheeks, and then pulled her in for a kiss.

"It's not the same thing, Maur."

"Isn't it?"

"No, it isn't. There is a difference between killing someone who is trying to kill the person you love and killing someone just for the hell of it."

Before Maura could protest, Jane pulled her into a hug, squeezing her as tight as she possibly could. How could Maura possibly believe she was evil? A killer? It's just not possible.

After a few minutes, she pulled back, looking Maura in the eye.

"Listen to me, Maur. You are not evil, okay? There isn't some killer gene. Killers aren't born; they're made. And you are not a killer. You are sweet and kind and beautiful and wonderful and amazing and the best person I have ever known. Please don't forget that."

"You really mean that?"

"Of course I do. I love you, Maura. I love you so much. Don't give up on us."

Maura shook her head, and then rested it on Jane's chest as the taller woman wrapped her arms around her once again. She whispered into her chest so soft Jane barely heard it.

"I love you, Jane."

Jane kissed the top of her head, and then glanced up, all of a sudden remembering that Gabriel had been standing there the whole time. Why he hadn't left when Maura had arrived?

"Did you need something, Gabe?"

"You…you're dating…her?"

"I thought that was quite obvious."

Jane couldn't help but chuckle at her girlfriend's words. She didn't show it often, but Maura could be quite possessive, a quality Jane found to be rather adorable.

"I don't understand. You left me…for…her?"

"It sure seems that way, doesn't it?" Jane replied, her smile growing by the minute. She couldn't help but feel a little satisfied that she was getting the chance to hurt Gabe the same way he had hurt her.

"But…why?"

"Because I love her."

"You love me."

"Loved. I loved you. Though honestly, I have no idea why."

"You'll regret this, Jane. You will regret this. Soon, you'll see what everyone else sees and you'll wish you could come running back to me. But I'll be long gone."

Jane smiled, looking down at the woman still in her arms. "I think I'll take my chances."

With that, Jane turned them toward Maura's apartment and walked her girlfriend home, thinking for the first time that maybe Maura was right. Maybe they could make it through anything.

- R & I -

A/N: Can you tell that it pretty much kills me to leave them not happy with each other? I wanted to drag out the fight a bit more, but I just couldn't do it. And I almost, almost, gave Dean a few redeeming qualities at the end, but I just couldn't do it. I dislike him way too much for that. Maybe you guys liked this chapter? Let me know. :)